You don’t need a lot of space to become a prepper. Having a homestead with a garden is ideal, but not everyone can afford that. Even if you live in an apartment in a busy city, you can still stock up on survival supplies and prepare for emergencies. Here are some tips and tricks for becoming the ultimate urban prepper. (h/t to ApartmentPrepper.com)
1. Make a list of everything.
Before starting anything, make sure that you have a notebook and a pen to keep track of all your supplies. It can be easy to forget where everything is, and you can't afford to forget where crucial items are in an emergency. (Related: Surviving urban hell: A prepper’s essential guide to finding your way in a grid-down city.)
Do not save the list on a computer or a laptop because both need electricity to work. You want something you can hold and keep by your side. Make sure to store your notebook somewhere safe and well-hidden.
Some tips on organizing your notebook include:
- Dividing the notebook into sections, each representing a room and a list of supplies stored there.
- Drawing columns for the kind of supply, the room, and the specific place where you hid it.
2. Do not throw away containers and organizers.
Some people may throw away plastic containers, plastic bottles, lunch boxes, and organizers, but that’s a waste. There are so many things you can store in them. With the proper organization, you can stockpile just about any item you need.
Check out some tips on using old containers:
- Place emergency kits in shoe boxes, and make sure to keep one in every room.
- Don’t throw away sturdy plastic bottles. Clean them out and fill them with drinking water.
- Use old boxes and organize your pantry. In emergency situations, it’s best to know where everything is. Take this time to also clear out any expired products to make room for fresher supplies.
- Lunch boxes make great containers, not just for food but toiletries and medical supplies as well. If there are kids in the family, prepare one for each of them and tell them to keep it with them always.
3. Maximize the spaces in your house (and car).
Sometimes, it’s not about how much space you have; it’s how you maximize it. People have so many places to keep their supplies, but they simply don’t realize it.
Here are some areas that you can use to stock your supplies:
- Stock supplies beneath the kitchen and bathroom sink. Place items like medical kits and toiletries in plastic containers with covers to prevent them from getting wet. Avoid putting clothes and food in the chance that there’s a leak.
- Buy shoe bags and hooks to place at the back of closet doors. You can fill the pockets with food and snacks. Just make sure that the items are not too heavy or they might tear the pockets.
- Store cans of food behind your books. Most shelves are wide enough that there’s a gap between the books and the back of the shelf.
- Fill up suitcases and purses with clothes, blankets, toiletries, medical supplies, food, and water. In case you have to evacuate, you can simply pick up your suitcase and leave with everything you need.
- Store emergency items in your car. Place plastic containers with your supplies beneath the front seats. You can also place a suitcase in the trunk, along with sleeping bags and a water jug.
4. Ensure your water supply.
You can survive for weeks with no food, but only three days without water. Water is a crucial resource, and it’s not easy to store them like food.
Check the list below for some tips on storing water:
- Line the back of your bookshelves with bottles of water.
- Collect water in Costco jugs. They’re rectangular in shape and fit better inside the freezer.
- If you don't have enough containers, make sure to stockpile water filters and water purification tablets or drops.
These are just some ways to prep in the city. Learn more tips and tricks on urban prepping at Preparedness.news.
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